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A white plate filled with golden-brown grilled chicken bites, coated in a glossy honey garlic sauce and garnished with chopped fresh herbs.
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Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Nuggets

These chicken nuggets are lightly caramelized and coated in a honey garlic sauce that’s sweet, savory, and buttery with no fattening breading.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time23 minutes
Course: Chicken
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer, chicken, honey garlic chicken
Servings: 6
Calories: 117.2kcal
Author: Recipe Idea Shop

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 1 ½ lbs. chicken breasts or thigh cut into 1–1½ inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 12 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

Honey Garlic Sauce

  • ¼ cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce or coconut aminos
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon cornstarch plus 1 tablespoon water,optional, for thickening

Instructions

Prepare Chicken

  • Preheat air fryer to 400°F and lightly grease the basket.
  • Pat chicken pieces dry and place in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, then add salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Toss until evenly coated.
  • Arrange chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between pieces. Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden on the outside and cooked through (165°F internal temperature).

Honey Garlic Sauce

  • While chicken cooks, add honey, soy sauce, butter, vinegar, and minced garlic to a small saucepan. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth and glossy. For a thicker sauce, whisk in the cornstarch slurry and simmer for 30–60 seconds until slightly thickened.

Combine Chicken and Sauce

  • Transfer hot chicken to a bowl. Spoon the warm sauce over the chicken and toss gently until evenly coated. Serve immediately.

Notes

● Avoid overcrowding the basket — cook in batches if needed for even browning.
● Toss with sauce while the chicken is hot so it clings evenly.

Nutrition

Serving: 4ounces | Calories: 117.2kcal | Carbohydrates: 15.64g | Protein: 1.61g | Fat: 6.29g | Saturated Fat: 2.78g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.45g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.72g | Trans Fat: 0.15g | Cholesterol: 10.03mg | Sodium: 892.9mg | Potassium: 94.64mg | Fiber: 1.24g | Sugar: 11.82g | Vitamin A: 220.68IU | Vitamin C: 0.39mg | Calcium: 24.5mg | Iron: 0.76mg